Cut Off and Forgotten: The Untold Hardships of Kuren Community

BONO REGION — Tucked away from Ghana’s major development corridors, the rural community of Kuren in the Dormaa Central Municipality has for years grappled with neglect and the absence of basic social amenities.

From dawn to dusk, residents endure harsh living conditions marked by poor road networks, lack of potable water, limited access to healthcare and weak network connectivity—challenges that continue to affect the community’s socio-economic life.

Residents say these hardships have gone beyond slowing development; they have entrenched poverty and dimmed hopes for meaningful progress.

According to the Assembly Member for the area, Yeboah Collins, successive governments and local authorities have paid little attention to the community’s repeated appeals for support.

“We face numerous challenges in this community because our concerns have been ignored for years. As a result, residents feel increasingly marginalised despite repeated appeals for intervention.”

Classrooms with Empty Chairs

For the 862 pupils of Kuren M/A Primary and Junior High School, education has become an uncertain journey.

In many classrooms, pupils are forced to sit on the bare floor or squeeze together on broken desks that can barely support their weight. Teachers say such conditions discourage attendance and weaken enthusiasm among both pupils and staff.

Frank Agyei, head teacher of the primary school, described the situation as unsuitable for modern education.

“We do not have adequate furniture in our classrooms; pupils are often forced to sit or lie on the floor during lessons. This is completely unsuitable for effective teaching and learning.”

Deplorable Road Network

Farming is the primary source of livelihood in Kuren, yet the poor state of the road linking the community to market centres remains a major obstacle.

Deep potholes and rough terrain make transportation difficult, forcing farmers to carry produce over long distances on motorbikes—leading to post-harvest losses.

“We are predominantly farmers, relying heavily on agriculture for our income, yet the road linking the community is in a deplorable condition,” said Kofi Adjei, a local farmer.

Absence of a Health Centre

Despite the global commitment under Sustainable Development Goal 3 (SDG 3) to ensure healthy lives and well-being for all by 2030, Kuren lacks a functional health facility.

Residents—including expectant mothers—must travel long distances to neighbouring towns such as Dormaa Ahenkro to access basic healthcare services.

Faustina Twumwaa, a pregnant mother, described her monthly struggle to access antenatal care.

“Sometimes I leave home very early and return late in the evening, tired and stressed, all because there is no clinic in the community.”

Poor Network Connectivity

In today’s digital era, Kuren continues to struggle with weak and unstable mobile network signals. Residents often move to specific spots or stand in open spaces just to make or receive phone calls.

This digital gap places the community at a disadvantage compared to better-connected areas, widening inequality in access to opportunities and essential services.

A Passionate Appeal for Development

Speaking on behalf of the community, the Assembly Member, Yeboah Collins, made a passionate appeal to government, NGOs and stakeholders to urgently address the pressing challenges confronting Kuren.

“We have been neglected for a long time. We are appealing to the government and relevant stakeholders to come to the aid of the community in terms of development.”

For the people of Kuren, the plea is simple: inclusion, infrastructure, and an opportunity to break free from the cycle of hardship.